The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-08-04
BULLFlNcHES AS PETS.
Devotion With Which They Become At
taehed to Their Owners.


Devotion With which They Become At
tached to Their Owners.
There is no animal with which I am
acquainted, not even that ''friend of
man." the dog. that forms so firm, so
devoted, so tender an attachment for
its master or mistress as the bullfnch
the naturally shy and wood-loving
bullinch, that almost dies of terror
when first caught, but becomes more
readily reconciled to captivity than any
bird l know.
A word, however, to my readers here:
do not buy one of these too charming
birds unless you have leisure and love
enough to make it your companion, to
keep it on your study table or in your
boudoir, talk to it, whistle to it, feed it
with tidbits, and teach it to Iove you.
When you have won its confidence,
which, with g.:ntle perseverance on
your part, will not tske long, your care
| and attention will he more than re-
warded by the empressensent with which
it will greet your return from your
business or your pleasure; it will hop
down to the door of the cage as soon
as it sees you enter the room, and in.
vite you with the most fascinating of
bows to let it out and perch upon your
finger, where it will talk to you in its
sweetest tones, and rub its dear black
velvet poll against your cheek or on
your hand, pairing the while with the
purest and hlost unalloyed pleasure. It
will even try to feed you, and instead
of feeling offended and annoyed-one
| lady who wrote to me used the word
''disgusted by this profoundest mark
OF its affection, feel colrespondingly
grateful, and bless your stars that you
have indeed friend, one who would
die for you, and will, too, if you are
cruel enough or thoughtless enough to
slight it.or forget it.
| do not say that there are no other
birds capable of becoming devotedly
attached to their owners, but do af-
firm that not one of them equals the
bullfinch in this respect. True, I have
known parrots that displayed quite
romantic affection for their master or
mistress, and yet, when parted from
them. sulked perhaps for few days,
but in the end accepted accomplished
facts, and, acting upon the advice OF
the poet. when they could not be near
the dear ones they loved, made love to
| those wno were near, which, under the
circumstances, was doubtless the most
sensible thing they could do. But
Bully is compact of far other clay,
and again entreat my reader not to
buy him unless they mean to love him,
for to neglect him is to torture him,
and most cruelty kill him, too.
What pretty bird he is! and yet
some writer's have described him as
clumsily made. Fie upon them! Can
any thing be more symmetrical than his
form, or more quietly beautiful than
the varied tints of his many-colored
coat. or. Ishould say, costume? Velvety
black and tosy red and delicate lavender
gray form charming combination of
colors, not one of which is obtrusive or
"kil!s" another, as the ladies say, but
is rather enhanced by the rest, the three
different shades forming tous-emsemble
that is simply perfect.
A newly captured bullfnch may be
purchased for three or ,our shillings,
but one that has been tanned AID edu-
Gated will often be sold for twenty
pounds, and / have no hesitation in
saying that it is worth the money if it
is like one dear bird | once possessed,
that was as loving, sensible ard accom-
rlished as a bird could be. hope that
he was happy while he called me mas.
ter, and believe he was; at least l
know that he preferred my society to
that Of a lady of his own species, who
was quite beauty in her Why, and
very clever little thing to boot: but he
endured her, nothing more, and l never
saw him kiss her once all the time thny
lived together, though he would have
led and carcssed me all day long if l
would allow him.-Dr. W T. Greeae,
iD Ha'pef's Magazine.
s F.